CHELSEA — The town will formally recognize the city of Augusta for sharing its staff to help with last year’s municipal elections and Town Meeting after the departure of Chelsea’s town manager and clerk.

Ralph St. Pierre, assistant city manager of Augusta, arranged for the city to lend deputy clerk and treasurer Tina Charest and a part-time assistant from the city’s clerk office to help out until selectmen found replacements.

Town Manager Angela Gordon abruptly quit last June and Town Clerk Flavia Kelley took a personal leave last May and was later terminated.

“We want to publicly recognize Augusta staff and council for stepping forward to help us out last June and July,” Chelsea Town Manager Scott Tilton said. “They sent two people over who were very knowledgeable who really kept the door open. Everyone who came over went above and beyond in allowing Chelsea to stay open and continue to provide service to it’s citizens.”

Tilton said the town also received assistance from West Gardiner. Town Clerk Heidi Peckham was sworn in as register of voters for one day to certify Chelsea’s election results from the school budget validation vote.

During that time the town also was dealing with former selectwoman Carole Swan’s police investigation. Swan was arrested and accused of misusing town money and soliciting more than $20,000 in kickbacks from a Whitefield plow contractor. Swan has pleaded not guilty to a host of federal fraud charges in connection with the case.

Advertisement

Tilton said a date for the presentation recognizing Augusta has yet to be set.

“It looks like the recognition will be in the form of a plaque that we want to have engraved and presented at one of their council meetings, which are broadcast,” he said.

Mechele Cooper — 621-5663

mcooper@centralmaine.com


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.